PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alfredo Leija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ludko Struja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leija comes to the cage accompanied by Original Nuttah. Struja has chosen HIJACK - THE BADMAN IS ROBBIN as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Leija
vs
Struja

190 cm
31
215 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

182 cm
34
211 lbs
25 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alfredo Leija !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Ludko Struja!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leija displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Struja throws out the jab.
Leija slips under a jab.
Leija cracks the inside of Struja's front leg.
Struja misses with a looping left.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Struja.
Leija scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Struja on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Leija . Leija obviously looking to wear him down.
Leija fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Struja misses with an uppercut
and Leija cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Struja has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Struja's corner calls for a 1-2. Struja obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Leija has been working on his boxing with his coaches at The Shark Tank in the buildup to the fight.
Struja tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Leija defends well and Struja ends up having to push Leija into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Leija . You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Leija .
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good shot there by Leija .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struja with a nice cross.
Struja throws a right and a left that both miss.
Leija moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Leija throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Struja's head.
Leija looks to score with a jab to the body but Struja is just out of range.
Struja lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Leija lands a nice looking body shot.
Leija throws a nice looking combination but Struja bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Struja throws a series of strikes that have Leija backpedaling.
Struja bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Struja throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Struja tries to close the distance and clinch up but Leija swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leija misses with a hook.
A solid leg kick lands there for Leija .
Leija ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Struja moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struja throws the left hand but Leija avoids the punch easily.
Leija scores with a jab.
Leija is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Struja.
Struja tries to bum rush Leija with a series of wild strikes but Leija uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Leija just misses with a punch to the body.
Leija uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Struja.
It looked like Leija wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Struja just misses with a punch to the body.
Leija is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Leija tries to work over Struja's front leg with a kick but Struja checks it.
Struja throws a lazy uppercut
and Leija counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Struja gets a double leg takedown into Leija 's guard.
Struja being controlled here momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struja throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Struja with a flurry of punches that miss.
Leija is pulling down on Struja's head to control his posture.
Struja is looking to advance position but Leija has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Struja sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Leija wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struja tries to roll over but Leija keeps him under control.
Leija is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Struja tries to get to full guard but Leija has control of the leg.
Leija is thwarting Struja's attempts to control the position.
Struja wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alfredo Leija dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Struja takes a swing at Leija 's ribcage but misses.
Leija misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Struja.
Struja scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Struja throws a right hand that Leija ducks under and follows up with a left that Leija also avoids with ease.
Struja misses with a double jab.
Struja loads up on a big right hand but Leija slips the punch.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Leija , right into the meat.

Struja closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Struja scores with a couple of short elbows.
Leija manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Leija keeping control of the position.
Struja landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leija trying to control here.
Leija is looking for a sweep. Struja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Struja not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Leija is doing well to control the position and prevent Struja from advancing to side control.
Leija is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Struja lands a nice short elbow.
Struja thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Leija has hold of Struja's hands but Struja slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Struja is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Leija is just riding it out for now. Struja eventually gives up the hold.
Struja wants to pass the guard but Leija is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leija avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Struja.
Leija is looking for a sweep. Struja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Struja throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Leija blocking the ground and pound attempt from Struja.
Struja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Leija 's head.
Struja is trying to control the action in half guard but Leija is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Struja there.
Struja throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struja frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Struja connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Struja lands a nice shot to the head.
Poor strikes thrown by Struja there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Struja trying to control but Leija is having none of it.
Leija wants to control but Struja is having none of it.
Struja working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Struja lands with some strikes.

Leija is rocked!
Leija is wriggling around trying to escape.
Oh Leija is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struja landing strikes, looking to finish!
Struja unloads with some shots from mount but Leija bucks and avoids them well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Struja throwing strikes but Leija uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Struja tries to pass the half guard into mount. Leija knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Struja is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Leija is not content to let Struja control the position.
Struja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Leija 's head.
Struja is trying to control the action in half guard but Leija is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Struja missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Struja looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Leija with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Struja connects with a nice short shot to Leija 's temple.
Struja wants to pass the guard but Leija is defending well.
Leija is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ludko Struja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Leija .
Leija seems to have got his legs back now.
Struja jabs at Leija 's body.
Alfredo Leija is winning the standup battle so far.
Leija lands a leg kick that knocks Struja off balance momentarily.
Struja lands a slapping body shot.
Struja misses with a left hand
and Leija cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ludko Struja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Struja misses with a double jab
and Leija counters with a stiff right hand.
Leija stalks Struja and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Struja's face. Struja staggers backwards, shaken.
Struja misses with a takedown attempt
and Leija counters with an inside leg kick.
Struja thuds a left hand into Leija 's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Struja closes the distance and clinches up with Leija , looking for a takedown. Struja pushes Leija against the cage but Leija circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Leija staying out of range there.
Struja looks to throw the jab but Leija is out of range.
Leija was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Leija throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struja throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Leija was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Leija misses with a head kick.
Leija uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Struja.
Struja lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A telegraphed right hand from Struja misses the target.
Struja staying out of range there.
Alfredo Leija is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Struja swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Leija .
Leija lands an overhand right.
Struja bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Struja tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Leija counters with a low kick, right behind Struja 's knee.
Leija scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Struja swings widly with a right hand
letting Leija counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struja tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leija lands a jab to Struja's midsection.
Leija lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Struja fails with the takedown.
Alfredo Leija has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ludko Struja.
Struja misses with a hook. Leija ducked under it nicely.
Leija throws a chopping leg kick but Struja manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Struja looks to land a combination but Leija avoids it well.
Leija ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Leija throwing a counter right hand but Struja manages to avoid it.
Struja on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Leija scores with a kick to the midsection.
Struja takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Struja tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leija scores with the left hand. Struja knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leija swings for the body but Struja moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Struja on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Leija misses with a shot to the body
enabling Struja to counter with a crisp jab.

Struja looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Struja throws a big right hand that misses.
Leija avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Struja is looking to advance position but Leija has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Struja is in all sorts of trouble here.

Leija stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Leija takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Struja swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Struja fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leija swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Leija clobbers Struja with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A head kick by Leija misses
and Struja counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Leija throws out a loose jab but Struja uses good head movement to avoid it.
Struja cracks Leija with an open hand slap.

Struja moves into the clinch.
Struja struggles to land a body shot inside as Leija controls his hands.
Struja tries to land knees in the clinch but Leija avoids the damage to the body.
Struja doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Leija blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alfredo Leija .
I think Leija has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alfredo Leija !
Alfredo Leija really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250 logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.